Tax defaulters get further grace period to pay outstanding debt
Tax defaulters have been given a further grace period to settle their outstanding debt to the government.{{more}}
Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, said that he had made the decision to extend the amnesty period until the end of June.
This follows on the initial one month amnesty period which Gonsalves said he had given provisions for as the Minister of Finance.
This initial period is expected to end on May 22, the prime minister said.
He explained that he made the decision to extend the grace period based on information he had received from Kelvin Pompey, Comptroller at the Inland Revenue Department.
He said Pompey informed him that people were coming forward and making the necessary arrangements to settle their arrears, in accordance with the provision of the amnesty provision.
âBut many of them have to go to banks to make the necessary arrangements; some have to go to their accountantsâ¦and thatâs understandable,â Gonsalves told members of the media.
According to Gonsalves, he needed to be practical, even though $220 million is outstanding in back taxes and not having money to spend on typical government projects.
âBut I have to put a sense of balance in it so that persons who have arrears donât feel like they getting a break and that those who paid on time are at a disadvantage,â he said. (DD)
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